Mary MacIntire
Staff Writer
Now that we are in the final stretch of 2023, it means that the holidays are coming in hot. If you happen to shop online or plan to, it is important to know how to shop safely.
Recently, Temu has been a popular app and website because of its wide variety of affordable products. However, there have also been accusations that they use software to collect customers’ personal data. Some shoppers even opt to use alternative forms of payment rather than use their credit or debit cards.
They offer payment options such as Cash App and Venmo, making it easier for some. Their website even claims that your payment information is safe and not shared with the sellers. It is wording like this that consumers have to watch out for.
Yes, your information may be protected from independent sellers using Temu, however, that also gives them the ability to stand behind a very vague claim. Just because they are not sharing it with sellers, does not mean they are not sharing it with other companies, or anyone else who is not considered a “seller.”
Another popular app and website that has come under fire recently is Crunchyroll. Though they may not be the most popular among all online shoppers, they are used by many for shopping and streaming all things anime. Around October of this year, it was announced that there is a class action lawsuit against Crunchyroll for sharing subscribers’ information without their knowledge.
With instances like this occurring all over the web, it can be hard to trust that the website you are using is not trying to track or sell your personal information. It can be confusing trying to find the signs of online scams and how to avoid them. One thing to remember is that if something seems like it may be too good to be true, it very well may be. If you cannot seem to escape pop-ups and random ads that want you to click on a website, it may be trying to run some kind of software on your device. There could be many explanations, but these are simple tips to help keep you safe online.
The best and easiest solution is to shop in-person at stores. It may be hard to find what you are looking for depending on what stores are around, but even yard sales and thrift stores may have a ton of stuff that can be in good condition and cost less. In-person shopping also eliminates the costs and environmental footprint of shipping. Wherever you decide to shop, just know that depending on the location and process of your chosen shop could make a difference.
